Resolutions and Reflections for The New Year
By N.F.T
In 2020, the world has shown how cruel life can truly be
Let’s acknowledge this, 2020 was a turbulent year! I can vividly recall when all of these problems around the world started popping up. I was on my final semester of Matriculation College preparing for my finals early February. Alas, our exams didn’t commence and our coursework marks had to be used to replace what should have been our exam grades. Now, I’m here in my hometown adapting to this new approach of online delivery learning (ODL) method at the start of my freshman year of university while keeping up with my duties as the only daughter in my family. I’m very sure I’m not alone.
In 2020, the world has shown how cruel life can truly be, from the police brutality against the Black community in the U.S. to the wildfires that hit Australia and other parts of the tropical forests around the globe along with the market crash in March and finally, the most afflicting event, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, oh my! *Sigh* It has been such an overwhelming year for everyone.
However, the world is not a lost cause. I still believe in the future. Not only my future, but yours as well, dear reader. Things will get better. It’s the beginning of a new year — 2021. The time where we carry out our annual tradition of setting up new goals and resolutions. You are probably thinking:
“Is it even worth it to set new year goals and resolutions considering how terrible this year might be as well?”
Let me tell you, doing this gives us hope and more clarity despite the fact that most people don’t actually complete or achieve their yearly pursuits. But, it’s not about the destination, rather the journey that should matter. It is also helpful in assessing how far we’ve grown that specific year.
Before you proceed in jotting down those new targets for the year ahead, there are important questions you should ask yourself. It’s not the typical “What do I want to achieve this year?” type of questions.
- What makes me happy?
- What can I contribute to the world?
- What do I don’t want to do anymore?
What makes me happy?
Life is too short to mainly focus on shortcomings. Maybe you didn’t manage to get in the Dean’s List last year, or you became so exhausted trying to please a friend who didn’t even treat you nicely. Or maybe, you just feel like a total failure for not reaching your family’s expectations.
Dear reader, take a step back. Instead of thinking about those problems right now, ask yourself this question — What actually makes you happy?
Sometimes we focus so much on worldly goals that we tend to neglect our soul. We punish ourselves too harshly for our flaws when in fact, it is what makes us human.
So, why not make a resolution to love and care for YOURSELF more this 2021? Discover what can bring you genuine joy and invest in it. If you don’t really know what makes you happy anymore, reflect back on your childhood to remember what made your heart light up.
Perhaps, when you were younger, you enjoyed kite-flying. Then, create a goal that you’ll play it every weekend. It doesn’t have to be rigid. Just make sure you arrange a session just for you to do a hobby that can bring joy and relaxation each week.
What can I contribute to the world?
It’s time to acknowledge that we don’t actually live merely for our own satisfaction. A resolution list primarily focuses on our personal improvements are great but not balanced. A relationship or community service resolution will be a wholesome addition to that list.
Especially since we’re in a tough time right now, with the pandemic having no signs of receding, with the economic downturn, e-learning difficulties, and et cetera, we need each other more than ever.
This question can help us figure out a new year resolution which can give us a sense of purpose and develop humility. It can be as simple as committing to a no-plastic-bag grocery shopping goal, or assisting a schoolmate who you know is struggling with a subject you’re good at. A bigger resolution can be volunteering for a cause you care about or participating in public speaking for environmental awareness. I encourage you to start simple.
What do I don’t want to do anymore?
In nurturing a plant, plucking out the weeds is necessary. Same with us humans. In the first question, I did mention to not think about your problems first and ask yourself what makes you happy. But, now it’s time for that.
Based on the problems in the past, people are more likely to pick up a good habit as a new year resolution without delving into the bad habits that are the roots to their problems. Don’t just write new year goals like working out thrice a week, reading 100 books in a year or studying 5 hours a day mindlessly. It can be unachievable when bad habits stand in the way.
Thus, I encourage you to design resolutions BASED ON those bad habits.
For example, if you did terribly last year in your studies, find out what bad habits did you actually hold on to that contributed to the problem. Maybe you get distracted easily by notifications from social media, have a habit of procrastination, or often sleeping during lectures.
Now, make the goal to discard these habits. You can try, “No social media from 8am — 5pm rule” or “setting the deadline two days earlier than the actual deadline for every assignment” or “no waking up past midnight” kinds of pledges.
Ultimately, when it comes to making these annual resolutions, it’s important to regard what you can control and what you can’t. Remember, outcomes are unpredictable, therefore emphasize on your habits and choices. All in all, just be patient with yourself and embrace what comes your way humbly.
